Story Highlights

Halley's Comet could come and go a dozen times before we see another NHL team launch a season with points in 24 consecutive games.

The universe's most famous comet buzzes Earth every 75 or 76 years, and probability shows that the Chicago Blackhawks' 21-0-3 start was a 1-in-1,000 season occurrence. When the Colorado Avalanche defeated Chicago 6-2 Friday night in Denver, it ended one of the most fascinating streaks in NHL history.

Dating to last season, the Blackhawks had not lost a game in regulation since March 25. That 30-game streak is the league's second longest behind the Philadelphia Flyers' record 25-0-10 run in 1979-80.

In a world where every piece of statistical minutia is dissected and probed, there will be some who will say the Blackhawks' run was an anomaly, merely multiple factors converging to allow for a perfect storm.

This was a unique season, shortened to 48 games by a lockout. The Blackhawks were playing only teams in their own conference. When the season started, some teams and players were more in sync than others. People are always looking for reasons to downgrade greatness. Probably during Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, someone suggested that he had a few lucky hits.

But everyone in the hockey world understood that what the Blackhawks accomplished was remarkable, particularly because it has occurred at a time when there is unprecedented parity in the league. In today's game, 20-plus general managers believe if they could make the playoffs, they could win the Stanley Cup.

The streak doesn't shorten the Blackhawks' path to the Stanley Cup, but here is why the streak was important to the team's championship aspirations:

1. Already in playoff mode: Anyone who watched the Blackhawks play over the first half of the season could see how focused they have been. They posted 13 one-goal victories, and 14 if you discount one empty-net goal. The grit and determination Chicago showed was reminiscent of the way the Los Angeles Kings played last season to make the playoffs and win the championship.

2. Confidence soaring: When we left the Blackhawks last spring in the postseason, they were frustrated by Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith. They had enjoyed a good regular season, only to have it spoiled by a disappointing playoff series. To keep the streak alive this season, they had to constantly hold leads and find ways to win. They don't seem like they are the kind of team now that would be undermined by a hot goalie.

3. Two tested goalies: At the start of the season, some wondered whether the Blackhawks' goaltending was strong enough. But both Corey Crawford and Ray Emery performed at a high level during the streak. Emery, who is supposed to be the backup, is 10-0. The streak demonstrated that the Blackhawks' goaltending is capable enough to win a Stanley Cup.

4. The well is deep: Since the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010, GM Stan Bowman has had to rebuild the goaltending and bottom 10 spots of the team's roster. This streak showed what a masterful job he did. There are times when the team's third line of Viktor Stalberg, Andrew Shaw and Michael Frolik looked as dominant as the first two lines. Rookie Brandon Saad came of age in this streak. The team's defense seems stronger than it was in 2009-10.

5. Winning with 'Q': What the streak showed is that Chicago coach Joel Quenneville might have the perfect team for his coaching style. He likes skating teams, and he likes to pressure the opposition with all of his lines. At all points in the game, Chicago either has the puck or looks like it is about to regain it. The Blackhawks put plenty of pressure on the opposition. Quenneville has overwhelming faith in this group, proved by the fact that he no longer has to overplay Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Johnny Oduya's arrival last season seems to have rounded out the defense. Nick Leddy's improvement has also helped. This streak reminded the Blackhawks how dominant they can be playing Quenneville's style. During the streak, they averaged better than three goals a game while yielding 1.79 a game.

The streak also matters because it gives Chicago a strong lead in the race to win home-ice advantage for the playoffs. Don't forget that roughly seven weeks remain in the regular season.

The Anaheim Ducks (17-3-3) also have uncorked an amazing start, and yet they trail Chicago by eight points. The next closest Western Conference opponent is 17 points behind the Blackhawks.

When the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010, the franchise had gone 39 years between championships. If they can win the Stanley Cup in June, it would be 36 months between titles.

Over the first 24 games of the season, the Blackhawks drew up a blueprint for how they need to play to accomplish that objective. That's why the streak was important.

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The Chicago Blackhawks set an NHL record with points in their first 24 games (21-0-3), or half the lockout-shortened season. A game-by-game look at the streak, which ended Friday:
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Game 4: Jan. 24 at Dallas. The Stars scored the first two goals, but Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews forced overtime. Marian Hossa won it on an overtime power play. Score: 3-2 Blackhawks (OT)
Tony Gutierrez, AP

Game 7: Jan. 30 in St. Paul, Minn. The Blackhawks scored twice to knock Josh Harding out of the game. Niklas Backstrom was perfect the rest of the way as the Wild won in a shootout. That ended Chicago's six-game winning streak, but kept their point streak alive. Score: 3-2 Wild (SO)
Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sports

Game 8: Feb. 1 in Vancouver. Roberto Luongo was solid with 27 saves, but the Blackhawks tied the game in the third period on a Patrick Kane goal. Luongo was perfect in the shootout. Score: 2-1 Canucks (SO)
Rich Lam, Getty Images

Game 11: Feb. 8 at Glendale, Ariz. The hype going in was Raffi Torres facing Chicago for the first time since his hit on Marian Hossa. Jamal Mayers fought him early and the Blackhawks had an offensive explosion with Patrick Kane scoring twice in a four-goal period goal. Score: 6-2 Blackhawks.
Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Game 13: Feb. 12 at Chicago. The Blackhawks were going against Ducks goalie Viktor Fasth, who had yet to lose in his first year. He kept his streak intact, but Chicago got a point by getting to the shootout. Score: 3-2 Ducks (SO)
Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

Game 14: Feb. 15 at Chicago. This game was memorable because of a fight between captains Jonathan Toews and Joe Thornton. The Sharks center won the fight, but Chicago prevailed. Score: 4-1 Blackhawks
Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports

Game 15: Feb. 17 at Chicago. Brent Seabrook, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp gave the Blackhawks a 3-0 lead by the first minute of the second period. Los Angeles scored twice in the third but the Blackhawks killed off a late power play to win. Score: 3-2 Blackhawks.
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Game 16: Feb. 19 at Chicago. Marian Hossa had two goals then was knocked out of the game when Vancouver's Jannik Hansen hit him in the back of the head. Chicago gave up two goals after that, but prevailed in the shootout. Score: 4-3 Blackhawks (SO)
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Game 17: Feb. 22 at Chicago. San Jose's Patrick Marleau scored with 15 seconds left in the first period, but once again, the Blackhawks rallied. Viktor Stalberg scored a bad-angle goal in the second and Brandon Saad (right) scored a short-handed goal in the third. Score: 2-1 Blackhawks.
Nam Y. Huh AP

Game 19: Feb 25 at Chicago. The Edmonton Oilers took the lead twice in the game, but the Blackhawks battled back to force OT. Marian Hossa (81) got the winning goal. Score: 3-2 Blackhawks (OT)
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Game 20: Feb. 28 at St. Louis. Chicago captain Jonathan Toews scored 12 seconds in and added a second goal in the third period. Goalie Corey Crawford left after the first period with an injury and Ray Emery completed the shutout. Score: 3-0 Blackhawks
Jeff Roberson, AP

Game 21: March 1 at Chicago. Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook scored in overtime to secure their 18th win of the season. Playing the second night in a row, the Blackhawks fell behind the Columbus Blue Jackets twice and gave up a tying goal in the final eight minutes. Seabrook tapped in a great feed from captain Jonathan Toews. Score: 4-3 Blackhawks (OT)
Nam Y. Huh, AP

Game 22: March 3 at Detroit. Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane scored a power play goal with 2:02 left in their third and then scored the lone shootout goal against Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. Score: 2-1 Blackhawks (SO)
Tim Fuller, USA TODAY Sports

Game 23: March 5 at Chicago. Bryan Bickell scored twice in the first period against the Minnesota Wild, and Patrick Kane added a big goal in the third as the Blackhawks set a franchise record with their 10th consecutive victory. Score: 5-3 Blackhawks.
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Game 24: Daniel Carcillo scored his first goal of the season with 49.3 seconds left for the winner. The Blackhawks trailed the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in the third period and were short-handed when captain Jonathan Toews tied the game. Chicago played without injured Marian Hossa.
Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images